An appeal board has ruled federal regulators ruled properly when they denied registration of the names “The Slants” for use by an Asian American band, reports Bloomberg.
The group had said its use of the name was an attempt to “take back” the ethnic slur.
It wanted to register the name as a trademark.
But regulations prohibit the registration of names that may disparage “persons, institutions, beliefs or national symbols.”
The trademark office cited several examples where the term “slants” is used in a derogatory matter.
You can read more about both sides of the argument in Bloomberg.
What do you think? Should the band be allowed to register their name “The Slants” as a trademark?
From @TheSlants via Twitter RE: Asian American Rock Band Can’t Call Themselves the Slants: It isn't over though, more to come soon. Unfortunately, Bloomberg reporter didn't actually read the case file, which reveals more